Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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38 PRESEASON 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY COREY BODDEN AND DAVID MCKINNEY G iven the changes on the coaching staff, including both coordinators, there was a fair amount of cautious optimism for the Fighting Irish heading into the 2017 campaign. Coordinator Mike Elko, hired from Wake Forest, has been tasked with revamping the defense that recorded just 14 sacks in 2016. The total ranked 117th out of 128 Football Bowl Subdi- vision teams and was the lowest for the program since 1991. Last season, Elko's unit at Wake Forest registered 41 sacks to rank 11th nationally. Along with a new scheme, the group will have a new position coach with Mike Elston sliding down from linebackers to take over a unit he pre- viously coached from 2010-14. Sophomore Daelin Hayes is the most discussed defensive lineman due to his athleticism. Hayes dis- played his talents in the Blue-Gold Game in April, registering three sacks during the intrasquad contest "Daelin hasn't played a lot of foot- ball," Elko stated. "Each time he goes out there and practices, he gets more and more confident with himself and what we're asking him to do. "Obviously, he's challenged day in and day out by some pretty good of- fensive lineman, and that allows him to improve every day." Upperclassmen such as senior defensive ends Jay Hayes and An- drew Trumbetti, senior defensive tackle Jonathan Bonner and junior nose tackle Jerry Tillery will also be counted on this season. Mixed in will be younger players who have been in the program such as sophomore de- fensive ends Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem and Adetokunbo Ogundeji. Heading into the season, Elston is expecting the unit to be more of a force. "It should be," Elston said. "That's what we are striving for. We've made great progress up to this point. I do believe by the end of this we'll be much improved from where we were a year ago. "We have guys like Jay Hayes that are committed to improving from where they were a year ago. Jerry Tillery is playing his best and most consistent football. I can't think of one time where he didn't come out with the right mindset. That's pretty good for a big that's in there battling every day." Elston is encouraged with the group's progression compared to last season, especially in pressuring the quarterback. "We're way ahead of where we were a year ago, I believe, in the ability to knock guys backs, use our hands and get off blocks," he said. "I believe we have very good edge presence with Daelin on one side, Trumbetti flipping back and forth, Jay Hayes, Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem and Ade Ogundeji. "We really have some ends that can collapse the pocket." Elston is also more confident in the overall interior depth, which contrib- utes to the high hopes for his unit. "You'll see a more productive Jerry Tillery, a way more productive Jona- than Bonner," the coach noted. "Our added depth comes from Brandon Tiassum, Micah Dew-Treadway, Kurt Hinish and Myron [Tagovailoa- Amosa]. "When Jerry, Bonner and Jay Hayes and those guys leave the field, the production doesn't drop off as much." Notre Dame's line play in 2017 will be pivotal towards the defense improving upon its 2016 numbers, when it finished 42nd nationally in yards allowed per game (378.8) and 62nd in scoring defense (27.8 points allowed per game). MEDIA DAY MUSINGS The Irish coaches are eager for their players to show off the strides they have made First-year defensive coordinator Mike Elko believes fans will be surprised by Notre Dame's defensive line play in 2017. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND